Destination Wedding Photography Information

My work as an Orange County wedding photographer has taken me all around. I have been fortunate enough to shoot destination weddings in several cities, and am excited to hear more about your overseas wedding.

In recent years there has been more and more interest in getting married abroad. As a destination wedding photographer, I thrive off the energy and excitement of brides and grooms who choose to have a wedding in a foreign country and love every second of it.

Destination weddings bring with them a whole new set of challenges as a photographer, but I believe that with my experience, I am the right photographer for you.

WHY CHOOSE A DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER?

When organizing your destination wedding, it can be tempting to search for a photographer based near your wedding venue. Wedding photography rates may be more attractive in some countries, and there’ll be no additional travel expenses incurred by you.

Although a local photographer will arguably be more knowledgable about the locality than a destination wedding photographer like myself, there are some other issues to consider when making your decision.

Aside from basic considerations like their fluency in English and respect of your western culture, manners and traditions, it’s also difficult to make a decision on a wedding photographer if you haven’t met them, or at least spoken to them. And what if they shoot your wedding and then never hear back from them? It’ll be hard to get in contact with them.

You’ll be spending the most important day of your life with your wedding photographer right by your side – I can’t stress enough how important it is that you get along well with them! The photos will show just how comfortable you felt with your wedding photographer being up close and personal…

As a destination wedding photographer, I feel like I bring fresh eyes to every wedding in a foreign country.

There’s nothing more exciting to me than shooting a wedding in a new location, exotic or not, and destination weddings really open the doors to creativity through natural wedding photography.

Will a local wedding photographer feel like this? Probably not! To them you are just another client that will be gone in a few days.

WHY HAVE A DESTINATION WEDDING?

Getting married overseas is obviously very exciting and alluring for many couples. Apart from the romantic idea of being in a far flung country tying the knot with your loved one, destination weddings also have a host of other advantages.

It’s easy to see why destination weddings are getting more popular each year for US couples looking to get married abroad or even destination weddings within the United States.

Here are a few of the advantages of a destination wedding versus a local wedding in your home country.

DESTINATION WEDDING COSTS

First and least romantic of all, the cost of a destination wedding is a major consideration.

On face value, flying overseas for your wedding can seem like a bit of a splurge. After all, why add the cost of plane tickets on to your ever-expanding wedding budget?!

Of course it depends on where you decide to have your destination wedding, but in the majority of cases, getting married overseas can work out to be a lot cheaper than getting married in the US… and you get a great vacation out of it!

Whilst in California or New York you’ll be paying upwards of $20,000 just for your wedding venue + food and drinks, a destination wedding in Bali or Fiji for example can be a fraction of the cost.

ORIGINALITY

It goes without saying that getting married in another country brings a whole new level of fun, interest and excitement to your wedding – both for you and for your guests. What are the chances that they have attended a wedding in your exact same unique destination wedding location?

To be completely blunt, there aren’t that many unique wedding venues in my local markets of Orange County and Los Angeles. Most of them are indoor banquet halls of one kind or another, and you’ve usually been to someone else’s wedding there.

There’s nothing wrong with that of course, but why pay so much for a location that doesn’t excite you? The more weddings I do, the more I want to have my own destination wedding with my closest family and friends.

WEEDING OUT THE GUEST LIST

It’s a sad truth that many of your not-so-close-friends will come to your wedding just for the free bar! This may sound cynical, but have a think about your own level of enthusiasm when a work colleague politely asks you to their wedding… Exactly!

By getting married overseas, only your closest friends and family will want to make the financial commitment to be at your destination wedding.

Sure, there may be good friends and family who won’t be able to afford the travel expenses or won’t be able to take time off work, but for good or for worse, there’s nothing like a destination wedding to really ‘trim the fat’ off your guest list, making the wedding day more intimate and personal for everyone involved. You can always have a reception here back in the states and invite everyone that wasn’t able to attend. I would love to photograph that as well!

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

It’ll depend on the location of your destination wedding, but for the most part, the scenery at the major destination wedding locations around the world will blow you away.

Aside from beautiful panoramic vistas of rolling hills, glistening lakes, turquoise seas or snow-capped mountains, sunset and after dark will offer sights that you and your wedding guests can only dream of in their home country. I’m all about capturing some of the most important moments in my clients lives, and being in an exotic destination will surely be an amazing memory for everyone!

DESTINATION WEDDING LOCATIONS

The South American countries offer the best value for money, and in some cases such as Jamaica, excellent food, friendly locals and surprisingly good security too.

For those living in the UK, the most popular destination wedding locations are Fiji again, Italy, South Africa, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Spain, Mauritius and more recently Iceland.

The eastern European countries such as Croatia and the Balkans are becoming more and more popular for destination weddings as they offer great value for money, friendly locals and stunning scenery.

DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER RATES

It’ll be different for each destination wedding photographer you speak to, but in my case, I offer wedding photography collections that offer some of the most cherished products my clients love.

I appreciate that flying a photographer from your home country to shoot your wedding can seem a little lavish, so as a little bonus I offer an extra 2 hours of coverage with any package you choose, or a free pre-wedding shoot or day after session at your wedding destination.

It is important for me to arrive a few days before your wedding both for peace of mind and for the important scouting of your wedding location, so we can get the best possible photos. Airfare and hotel for two nights and the night of your wedding are going to be needed for travel accommodations. This allows me to have a little bit of buffer time, just in case a flight gets delayed or canceled, and then allows me to have a full day to scout for the best wedding photos possible.

Most of my collections have a second shooter included and accommodations for them will be needed as well. If you are having a smaller more intimate wedding or elopement then I may be capable of shooting it on my own if you let me help you with your wedding photography timeline.

BOOK A DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION

If you’re planning a destination wedding and you’re looking for an experienced destination wedding photographer, get in touch using the form below so we can discuss your plans and secure your wedding date.

Please include as much detail as possible. I will reply by email and schedule a time to talk.